Hudson River Derby

The New York derby between New York Red Bulls and New York City FC represents the largest city in America. Following the first ever derby in 2015, Red Bulls had cut the allocation of NYCFC fans by two-thirds for their next home game because of NYCFC fan behaviour that included throwing smoke bombs and flares onto the pitch. That set the tone for the Hudson River derby which the Red Bulls have so far dominated, including A 7-0 victory in 2016 for the Red Bulls in a game known as 'The Red Wedding'.

Atlantic Cup

DC United and New York Red Bulls were always going to be rivals with strong Washington-New York rivalries in the NFL and NHL already in place. The Atlantic Cup has developed into one of the fiercest derbies in the MLS with both clubs having among the largest and oldest supporter groups in the league.

The pair have been going at it since 2002 and one of the most iconic moments was in 2006. After DC United's Alecko Eskandarian scored the first goal in a 4–1 win, he celebrated by taking a sip of a Red Bull energy drink and then spat it on the ground.

Canadian Classique

Canadian clubs Toronto FC and CF Montreal compete in the heated Canadian Classique, also known as the Two Solitudes Derby or the 410 Derby. The two cities have been historical rivals in sports which is something that has translated over to the MLS.

Texas Derby

The winner of the Texas derby annual series between FC Dallas and Houston Dynamo takes home one of the most unique trophies in world soccer, a replica 18th century mountain howitzer cannon called the El Capitán. Despite the series starting back in 2006 the derby has been evenly matched. The rivalry is a bit more intense over social media than it is in the stands but the addition of Austin FC should raise the stakes in the state.

Battle of Cascadia

One of the most ferocious derbies in the MLS, the Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers battle it out in a war between the two Pacific-Northwest giants. Considered one of the greatest rivalries in American soccer, it's atmosphere has been compared to English Premier League derbies. The two have been rivals since 1975 during the old NASL so have built up quite a storied history during their rivalry.

Violence however is extremely rare between both sets of supporters but there is deep resentment between the two sets of fans with the teams facing frighteningly hostile receptions during away games. The attitude of the fans is shared among players on the pitch; former Timber's defender Scot Thompson and Sounders striker Roger Levesque playing out a fierce rivalry of their own.

Hell is Real Derby

Columbus traditionally lacked a geographic rival prior to FC Cincinnati joining the league. The two battle it out in the Hell is Real Derby, also known as the Ohio derby, and is one of the newest derbies in the league with the first MLS match between FC Cincinnati and Columbus Crew played in 2019. The rivalry started a couple years earlier in the U.S. Open Cup with FC Cincinnati, a USL club at the time, upsetting the Crew who were playing a close to full strength side.

The derby name is no doubt the best in the league, originating from an Interstate 71 sign just south of Columbus that reads 'Hell is Real' when driving toward Cincinnati. While intended to encourage religious reflection, it's inspired the name for one of the biggest growing rivalries in the MLS.

California Clásico

The LA Galaxy and San Jose Earthquakes participate in the California Clásico in a Northern California vs. Southern California matchup. Considered one of the most historical rivalries in the MLS it's also one of the most intense. The San Jose Ultras and Angel City Brigade supporter groups are among the most hated of rivals often taunting each other with huge tifos and chants.

When the two teams play together there's a strong away team support resulting in heightened security to separate the two sets of supporters from fighting. One of the most controversial moments between the two rivals was off the pitch with the transfer of one of the greatest U.S players of all-time, Landon Donovan moving from San Jose to the LA Galaxy.

Rocky Mountain Cup

The Real Salt Lake and Colorado Rapids rivalry is one of the most underrated derbies. The Mountain West regional derby has been dominated by RSL since the cups creation in 2005 and there's been no shortage of drama. The clubs completed a player exchange before the start of the 2006 season with Rapids forward Jeff Cunningham and RSL midfielder Clint Mathis swapping sides.

Cunningham would haunt his former Colorado team with two goals and an assist during a 4-1 win that season. The Rapids would get their revenge later on in the year in a heated match. Fans threw debris and missiles onto the field throughout the game which Colorado would end up winning and retaining the Rocky Mountain Cup. Rapids captain Pablo Mastroeni further ignited the derby by celebrating and taunting Salt Lake fans following their win.

El Trafico

The rivalry between the two Los Angeles based clubs LA Galaxy and LAFC is one of two crosstown derbies in the MLS alongside New York's Hudson River derby. The derby name references the notorious traffic congestion in LA with the two clubs separated by a 12-mile stretch of freeway. The derby name is also a play on the El Clásico derby between Real Madrid and Barcelona.

The first MLS meeting between the clubs in 2018 set the tone for the derby. After LAFC built a 3-0 lead, the Galaxy's Zlatan Ibrahimović inspired a comeback off the bench in his first ever MLS game, scoring two goals including a stoppage time winner in a 4-3 victory.

Even before the derby began on the pitch there was already bad blood off it between both sets of supporters. In 2017 shortly after LAFC's creation, a mural in the clubs colours was painted in downtown Los Angeles. Months later the mural was vandalized to read 'GALAXY' and was done in retaliation to a Galaxy billboard being defaced.

Precourt Derby

Ok I've made this one up but there's the potential for a genuine rivalry between Columbus Crew and Austin FC. Investor Anthony Precourt once owned the Crew but announced plans in 2017 to relocate the club to Austin as Columbus wouldn't publicly fund a new stadium.

There was a massive outcry from MLS fans and fortunately, Pete Edwards partnered with Jimmy and Dee Haslam to save the Crew in 2019. Bizarrely, Precourt was rewarded with an MLS expansion franchise in Austin despite his tactics and Crew fans won't forget Precourt holding the club hostage.

• LA Lakers vs. San Antonio Spurs

• New York Knicks vs. Miami Heat

• Detroit Pistons vs. Chicago Bulls

• Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

• Chicago Bulls vs. New York Knicks

• LA Lakers vs. Boston Celtics

6. LA Lakers vs. San Antonio Spurs

The Lakers and Spurs have a special rivalry and at one stage was considered to be the biggest rivalry in the NBA. The Lakers are the only team that has a winning overall record against the Spurs in both the regular season and the playoffs.

The rivalry kicked off with San Antonio winning their first title in 1999. Throughout the 2000s the Lakers and Spurs dominated the Western Conference with the pair meeting each other in the playoffs four times, the Lakers winning three series. Shaquille O’Neal would depart the Lakers in 2004 with the Lakers taking a turn. The Spurs would then dominate the Western Conference winning three championships between 2003-2007.

One of the most memorable moments of the rivalry was when Derek Fisher made an impossible fadeaway in the Western Conference semifinals in 2004. With the series tied at 2-all and with just 0.4 seconds left, Tim Duncan gave San Antonio the lead. Fisher then hit an impossible fadeaway just before the buzzer sounded to give the Lakers a win and the momentum to win the series.

Adding some more spice to the Lakers-Spurs rivalry is Robert Horry who spent six years with the Lakers, winning three championships. Horry would sign for the Spurs in 2003 and played a surprisingly key role in helping the San Antonio to two titles in five years. Dennis Rodman also played for both the Spurs and the Lakers as did Pau Gasol and Danny Green.

5. New York Knicks vs. Miami Heat

The Heat-Knicks rivalry was at one stage the most fiercest in the NBA. The peak of the rivalry was between 1997-2000 where both teams met in the playoffs for four years straight, the first time that’s ever happened in NBA history. The Knicks got the better of the Heat, winning three of those four series which were all played with intense defensive struggles, many foul calls and aggressive physicality.

Patrick Ewing vs. Alonzo Mourning was one of the best matchups in the Heat-Knicks rivalry, the pair meeting 22 times in the regular season and 23 times in playoff games between 1992-2002. Ewing has a better record over Mourning, winning 25-20 overall and 14-9 in playoffs. Historically the head-to-head record between the Knicks and the Heat is very close.

Interestingly one of the most contentious moments in the rivalry was off the court, when beloved New York coach Pat Riley left the Big Apple for Miami. Riley’s signing to the Knicks in 1991 was instrumental in keeping Patrick Ewing in New York and making a complete U-turn from free agency. What made things worse was that Riley told the Knicks he was leaving in a fax to the Knicks front office.

Losing Riley was significant because of how he was able to transform the Knicks into the strongest, most conditioned and physical team in the league. Unfortunately for the Knicks he couldn’t bring ultimate glory to New York, their last championship in 1973. Riley would however end up guiding the Heat to an NBA Championship in 2006.

4. Detroit Pistons vs. Chicago Bulls

The Pistons-Bulls rivalry began in the late 80’s and was one of the most fiercest in the NBA for years. Geographically the areas are quite close – separated by 280-miles – and both Chicago and Detroit are the two largest metro areas in the Midwest, sharing rivalries across many sports.

Both the Pistons and Bulls were Eastern Conference contenders in the 80s and 90s. Initially the ‘Bad Boys’ of Detroit got on top of the Bulls by carefully devised the ‘Jordan Rules’, a strategy used to limit the impact Michael Jordan had on games. The game plan involved limiting Jordan from taking clutch shots as well as playing a physically imposing defense. Through 1988-1990 the plan worked as the Pistons knocked the Bulls out of the playoffs in three straight seasons on their way to winning back-to-back championships.

At the turn of the 90’s, Bulls coach Phil Jackson deployed the Triangle Offense which changed the entire course of the Chicago Bulls franchise and added fuel to the the Pistons-Bulls rivalry. The Bulls would win six championships throughout the 90’s, Jordan ultimately too explosive and dangerous to keep in check.

One of the most intense feuds of all-time was created in the Pistons-Bulls rivalry: Michael Jordan and Isiah Thomas. Where feuds have healed and players have reconciled over time, the Jordan-Thomas rivalry has never faded. Jordan believes that Thomas was behind the infamous ‘Freezeout’ of Jordan at the 1985 NBA All-Star Game. It’s also said that Isiah, a Chicago native, wasn’t pleased with Jordan transforming the Bulls and having the entire city of Chicago behind him. Jordan has admitted to hating Thomas, but respecting his game enough to rank Thomas as the second best point guard of all-time.

3. Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

The Warriors-Cavs rivalry has developed only recently, beginning in the 2014-15 season as the Golden State and Cleveland met in four consecutive NBA Finals. The Warriors built a dynasty surrounding Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, winning three championships in four seasons. What makes the rivalry special is that the Cavaliers won the 2016 NBA Finals, the Warriors blowing a seemingly unassailable 3-1 lead in a season which they achieved the best regular season record of all-time finish 73-9 (.890).

Cleveland would spice up the rivalry by mocking Golden State at a Halloween party, with tombstone cookies supposedly featuring the names of Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry. In a TNT interview, Warriors’ power forward Draymond Green stated: “I don’t have much love for the Cleveland Cavaliers at all, nor do I think they have much love for us…that’s the true meaning of building a rivalry”. Since Lebron James’ departure, the rivalry has simmered in recent years as the Cavaliers faced a rebuild but Cleveland will never forget the championship that ended a 52-year title drought for the city.

2. Chicago Bulls vs. New York Knicks

The Bulls-Knicks rivalry is one of the biggest NBA rivalries of all-time. The rivalry peaked during the 90’s between the biggest city in the East and the biggest in the West. Chicago and New York always managed to find themselves matched up in intense and high-stakes games which was filled with spectacular dunks, trash talk and immense physicality.

Summing up the rivalry was the ultimate match-up of Michael Jordan vs. John Starks. It was a battle of the heavyweights with Starks one of the only few players who could make an impact and limit Jordan’s game. The rivalry was so intense that Michael Jordan and Patrick Ewing, friends off the court, were involved in a heated exchange during the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals. The two had to be pulled apart following an exchange of angry words mid-court.

One of the most iconic moments of the rivalry was Scottie Pippen’s slam dunk on Ewing. Following the dunk Pippen shoved an already unbalanced Ewing over and took it a step further by walking over Ewing. Pippen then taunted Spike Lee who was on the sidelines and earned himself a technical foul.

1. LA Lakers vs. Boston Celtics

The Celtics and Lakers were always destined to be the biggest rivalry in the NBA as the two oldest teams in the league. The rivalry, like most, peaked in the 80’s. Throughout the 80’s it was either the Celtics or the Lakers who would be competing in the NBA Finals.

The Larry Bird and Magic Johnson rivalry is among the greatest in NBA history and the 1986 Celtics (67-15) and the 1987 Lakers (65-17) NBA championship teams are considered to be among the best teams in NBA history.

Boston are historically the better team in the rivalry with a 9-3 series record when both compete in the NBA Finals as well as a better head-to-head record. In the 2020 NBA Finals, the Lakers also matched the Celtics 17 championships to both become the most successful franchises in history. Both the Lakers and Celtics have won more than 45% of all NBA championships in history making the Lakers-Celtics rival the biggest in NBA history.